State Cites Maui Company for Workplace Violations Involving Asbestos

Proposed Penalties Total $155,375

HONOLULU—The Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DLIR) Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division today announced that it issued citations to Hale Mahaolu for exposing workers and the public to asbestos. The health violations were related to work with asbestos-containing material (ACM) in the Lahaina Surf Complex between January and June 2013. Contractors and maintenance personnel were not informed that there was ACM present and about the precautions necessary to protect themselves during work with such material. Hale Mahaolu has contested the citations.

“Hale Mahaolu sacrificed worker and public safety through the deliberate neglect of safe asbestos handling fundamentals—this exposure could and should have been prevented,” said DLIR Director Dwight Takamine.